Protecting Our Most Valuable Resources
In farming, water is life. Our crops need water to convert the sun’s energy into their own food, and they need water to ensure they can transport that food and other nutrients within the plant. Maintaining an adequate water supply directly impacts crop yields, which impacts our farm’s ability to produce food for a growing population.
At Threemile, we recognize that water is a shared resource, not just with our neighbors today, but with future generations. As such, using every drop wisely is always top of mind.
Since we first started operating over a quarter of a century ago, we have placed a strong focus on how we can use cutting-edge technology to improve our water use efficiency. We consider it a privilege to irrigate from the mighty Columbia River, and our team has always worked to maximize every single drop from this sustainable water source. We do this in the fields with the crops we grow, and we do this in our dairy by working to recycle water through our closed-loop system.
Responsible water practices are at the core of our commitment to being stewards of the land and continuing to pioneer sustainable farming.
Farming One Field at a Time
For every field we farm, we use a combination of in-field observations and advanced technology to monitor constantly changing conditions and the impact on the crops. The recipe we follow is to compare rainfall accumulation with crop water needs to determine the gap between the two, which ultimately dictates how much additional water is needed. For the former, we examine historic and real-time meteorological data to understand weather patterns. We then monitor soil moisture levels and compare those with what we know about our crops’ water needs. When the crops need water, and Mother Nature isn’t providing it, we then turn to our irrigation system.
Responsible and Efficient Irrigation
Once we determine water needs for each field and crop, we can prescribe an exact watering schedule that will be applied by irrigation systems. We use center-pivot irrigators for efficient and even water application, which are equipped with drop-down nozzles to keep the water close to the soil and reduce water lost to evaporation.
Each year, we analyze our water use and crop outcomes to determine what worked well during this growing season and map out the next. Armed with this analysis, we are able implement the practices that were most successful. In this way, we are continuously learning and modifying our irrigation practices.
Innovation Driving Efficiency
Threemile led the industry as one of the first large farms to adopt state-of-the-art irrigation systems as part of our broad farming practices. We rely on the latest technologies to assist us in making sure that our crops receive only the necessary amount of water, and no more. We also rely on the latest scientific analyses to inform our water protection practices, collaborate with state and independent agencies, and use technology not only to maximize every single drop efficiently but to reduce pollution and improve water quality.
The technologies we use allow us to:
• Conserve energy. Our irrigation system is equipped with sophisticated pumping automation controls. These controls inform our irrigation operators of the optimal times to do specific pumping operations while identifying the most efficient pump to use. This innovation maximizes energy used to apply water, saving an estimated 1 million kilowatt hours annually, as verified by Energy Trust of Oregon, an independent engineering group we have proudly partnered with for more than twenty years.
• Respond quickly to changing conditions. Innovative changes such as moisture sensitivity controls allow us to detect moisture levels in the soil. If it determines there is enough moisture present, it can switch off to save water and energy. Our irrigation systems are also connected to a 150-mile WiFi, giving us the power to constantly monitor and control each of our more than 600 owned and leased irrigation circles.
• Maximize water use. Using our low-pressure technology, we minimize water that would otherwise be lost through evaporation.
• Monitor our water usage. Our irrigation pipes are equipped with flow meters to register exactly how much water we’re using on a second-to-second basis, allowing us to meet exacting standards on our Columbia River water usage. We incorporate this data into our historical records to help us make informed use decisions year after year.
For nearly 20 years, Threemile Canyon Farms has partnered with Energy Trust to implement projects that save energy, conserve resources (like water and labor) and reduce costs. These efforts combined have resulted in estimated annual savings of 39 million kWh of electricity and annual energy cost savings of more than $3.3 million.
Threemile Canyon Farms has tackled a variety of energy-saving projects from irrigation, refrigeration, lighting and more. Some key projects include:
• Irrigation Efficiency: Cement Mortar lining was added to nearly 30,000 feet of pipe, reducing friction and allowing pump stations to run at lower pressures. This upgrade alone saves an estimated 1 million kWh annually—enough to power 94 homes.
• Optimized Pumping Systems: The installation of a variable frequency drive in an irrigation booster system helps the motors run at adjustable speeds rather than at a constant maximum. This innovation saves an estimated 1 million kWh each year.
• Strategic Energy Management: Through their recent participation in Energy Trust’s Strategic Energy Management offering, Threemile Canyon Farms’ irrigation team implemented 22 low- or no-cost energy-saving opportunities just within their irrigation system, reducing their annual energy costs by over $170,000.
Learn more about our partnership with Energy Trust in their blog post.